Team Makita Suzuki Experiences Fuel Problem

Team Makita Suzuki Racing experienced a fuel problem in last weekend’s AMA Toyota Motocross race at Thunder Valley Motocross Park in Lakewood, Calif. In the Motocross class, Makita Suzuki’s Ivan Tedesco had difficulties in the first moto and then crashed while battling with the front-runners in the second moto. His Motocross Lites teammate Ryan Dungey, meanwhile, had an impressive first moto, finishing fourth. Unfortunately, he crashed in the second moto. Makita Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael did not race at Thunder Valley because he is running an abbreviated race schedule in 2007.

Makita Suzuki Team Manager Roger DeCoster:“Both of our problems -- with Ryan in the second moto and with Ivan in both motos -- were caused by the same situation with the fuel. At the end of the first Motocross moto with Ivan, the bike started to hesitate due to problems with fuel inconsistencies. That’s the same problem we experienced in the second moto with Ryan. Then, in the second moto with Ivan, the Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 was running well and he was fighting with the top group when he hit Mike Alessi’s rear wheal and crashed. After he crashed and the engine stopped running, the fuel temperature went up even more and that just exacerbated the problem. We’ve met with VP Fuels and together we are doing everything we can to address the situation.”

Team Makita Suzuki Racing will race next at Washougal Motocross Park in Washougal, WA, the weekend of July 28 - 29, 2007.